LANDSCAPING : Before the sign change this morning, a brief root window rewards a few precise tasks around woody plants. Spread a 5 cm layer of bark mulch around the base of hydrangeas and rhododendrons, keeping it clear of the stems — this locks in moisture through August’s heat and slowly feeds the soil. Check clematis ties and loosen any that are biting into new growth; a little slack now prevents scarring later.
After the sign change, the day opens into a long flower-friendly afternoon — a generous stretch of time for ornamental work. Take dahlia cuttings from firm, non-flowering side shoots, trimming just below a node and inserting them into a free-draining mix; kept humid and shaded, they root in two to three weeks. Transplant cosmos seedlings to their final position, 30 cm apart in rows 40 cm clear, and zinnia plugs to 25 cm in the row, rows 30 cm — both will push on strongly in the summer warmth. Roses and wisteria can be lightly pruned now: on roses, remove spent trusses back to a strong outward-facing bud; on wisteria, cut laterals to five or six leaves from the main framework to build next spring’s flower buds.
ORCHARD : A flower day suits the grapevine and kiwi well. Pinch kiwi laterals back to five leaves beyond the last fruit, and walk the vine rows trimming any shoots that have pushed past the top wire — open canopies ripen fruit more evenly and reduce mildew pressure as August arrives.
INDOORS : Lemon trees in pots appreciate a quarter-turn today so every side catches equal light. Water at the base until it drains freely, then hold off until the top centimetre of compost feels dry again.